Karen Schaefer is an Investor, Writer,Speaker and Property Designer. She is the founder of Simple Appeal, Inc., the Premier Nationwide Staging and Design Company as well as APSD, The Association of Property Scene Designers.She is known nationwide as the Expert on selling properties in ½ the time at full market value.Learn more about Home Staging, Curb Appeal, Real Estate Marketing and Selling, visit www.APSDmembers.com.
In the past month, I have been traveling extensively and it seems to me as though that is not going to stop any time in the near future. The reason, very simply, is the lousy state of real estate. What is interesting is that my Simple Appeal method is quickly gaining nationwide recognition, because, at the risk of sound arrogant, it works. The truth is that effective staging works and should be used every time. In a sellers market, it will serve to transact the property at a much higher price than other comparable properties. In a buyers market, it serves to transact the property faster. After all, time is money and there is no greater example of this than when you are still paying for a mortgage that you thought would have been gone months before.
As my system, services and speaking become more and more in demand; it tells me that people become more and more aware of what it takes to still run successful real estate businesses no matter the market condition. How many times have you looked back in life over something that seemed very tragic and ultimately you were grateful for the lesson (sometimes this takes awhile…I know!)? That is what is happening right now. We are being taught many lessons, and if we pay attention, we will continue to thrive today, but even better, we will explode our businesses on the next market transition.
Most of you know that I am a very active real estate investor. As a matter of fact, that is how got my start as a Professional Home Stager. Okay, I digress… As we watched our market comes to a screeching slow down (in other words, the real estate brakes were slammed on)—I had to focus on reworking my staging system and then repositioning it as well. It is what forced me to come up with the “5 Steps to Selling Real Estate in 30 Days or Less.” As a result of that, I recently sold nearly $80,000 in 75 minutes to investors that knew that my system would help them to transact their properties faster—and they are right. The difference between my system and that of everyone else in the staging and design industry is that I know real estate and I know what it takes to sell a property. I did not get in this just to make a property pretty, I did this to sell.
This is not meant to be a sales pitch, just an observation. It takes more now to sell a property, take a look at the steps that I gave you in this months “tips” articles. The point though, is that if you are willing to go the extra step, not only will you sell faster, you will make far more money by not holding a property one day longer than necessary.
Now go out there and sell those houses!
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Consider the Benefits of Living in a Master-planned Community
By: Marikor Hidalgo | 03/12/2009There is an increasing number of home owners wanting to live in a master-planned community. At the same time, more and more developers are leaning towards creating such communities. Almost all states in the country, private gated and well planned communities scatter all over. But do not worry that quality would be compromised as the quantity goes higher. These communities are getting better everyday.
Is it a Good Idea to Offer More than List Price
By: Marikor Hidalgo | 03/12/2009Almost in any sort of business or industry, the buyer is usually the stronger end of the deal. The seller is typically vulnerable because mainly he or she is selling due to financial needs. And in the real estate world, you need to take advantage of such presumption to work your way into making the best and highest offer to acquire your own home. On the other hand, you have to be knowledgeable in this field first so you could make decisions you could benefit from entirely.
Packing for Moving – Ways to Get Around
By: Maria | 03/12/2009If you are one of those movers that are ecstatic to relocate to your new home, you may have been so caught up that you forgot about the essentials of packing. Sometimes, in the event of moving, household goods and items become casualties. But with a bit of planning, you will surely arrive with your stuff in mint condition. You certainly do not want your precious glassware or other fragile collectibles to shatter just because you were negligent in your packing.
For Your Storage Needs – Use Your Attic
By: Maria | 03/12/2009Oftentimes, the style and maturity of a home dictate if an attic can be used as a storage space. Old-style homes like colonials and Victorians are typically structured to provide an attic owing to steeper roof pitches. Modern homes, however, are seen as having the least amount of storage space in the attic because of engineered roof trusses that significantly compromise roof pitches. Sometimes, newer homes only allow crawlspaces as storage areas.
Knowing the Relevance of Selling Points in your Home
By: Rose | 03/12/2009Home acquisition is a valuable venture in real estate just as home selling is of equal worth and value. In fact, selling a house is far more challenging than merely shopping around for the best deals in your place. As home seller, then, you need to embark on sure-fire methods in making sure you sell your property effectively and in no time. One standard way of doing this is through determining and enhancing the selling points of a home.
Puerto Vallarta Real Estate Flourishes
By: Tom Budniak | 03/12/2009Puerto Vallarta is known for its world class lifestyle and amenities. No wonder rich and famous from all over Americas come to Puerto Vallarta when they want to experience the best a vacation destination has to offer...
Living in Anchorage, AK
By: Cindy Wilson | 03/12/2009Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska, which incidentally is the largest state in the United States of America in terms of area. With 279,243 municipal residents, it is home to nearly half the population of Alaska. Anchorage is home to some of the best landscapes in all of America. The ice covered mountain range in the background makes for great scenery throughout the year.
Homes for Sale in Anchorage, AK
By: Cindy Wilson | 03/12/2009Anchorage, situated in South Central Alaska, is the largest city in Alaska. With a population of about 279,243 as estimated in 2008, 40 percent of the state’s population is located in Anchorage. To the south of the city is the Turnagain Arm. To the west and north is the tidal inlet Knik Arm. The Chugach Mountains encompass a part of the city in the east.
Fast is Still the Sexiest
By: Karen Schaefer | 17/10/2009 | Real EstateThat is FAST CASH. Despite the fact that we are in a down market throughout the better part of the entire country, and we keep preaching “buy and hold, buy and hold” logic never replaces the allure of fast and sexy cash. Everywhere I go, there are new investors entering the market, not for the common sense marketing strategy of holding properties which will create true long term wealth for you, but rather, that good old fashioned “GET RICH IN REAL ESTATE TODAY” why on earth would you wait or
Home Staging The Schaefer Synopsis
By: Karen Schaefer | 17/10/2009 | Real EstateI think you all know that if you were lucky enough to buy on appreciation and make a bunch of money and keep it—you were just that—lucky. Your better and safer bet is to buy on cash flow, which is now the name of the game.
Home Staging Tips Using Furniture to Stage Homes
By: Karen Schaefer | 17/10/2009 | Real EstateFurniture seems to be the bane of existence for many people trying to unload their houses. How much do I need? Do I need it at all? If so, where do I get it? Do I have to buy it? The questions go on and on. It never fails on each and every Wednesday morning tele-coaching call to my VIP students, someone asks me about furniture.
How to Properly Clean and Stage Your Home for Sale
By: Karen Schaefer | 17/10/2009 | Real EstateHave you ever seen a MR. Clean commercial? Isn’t he clean? Don’t you wish he would just come over and take care of all of your properties for you? Some big shaven headed one earring wearing really clean guy all in white—you got to love it. There has to be a song in there somewhere.
Staging Your Home How to Sell Fast
By: Karen Schaefer | 17/10/2009 | Real EstateIt seems as though it does not matter where I am, people are saying the same thing. “How do I sell my houses?’ I was just in St. Louis last week and as I was giving a one day seminar, the biggest concern was the increasing days on market, currently up to 180!
Home Staging Why Are Rugs So Great
By: Karen Schaefer | 17/10/2009 | Real EstateThis month in the Staging Report I want to talk about something so exciting, you will hardly be able to sit and read this at the same time. No, you will jump for joy, scream at the top of your lungs and no doubt, run naked thru the tulips. What could possibly be so exciting? Rugs. I know what you are all thinking, that I definitely need to get out more, and yes, I do realize that, but please, hear me out on this one.
Holding Warm Open Houses During a Cold Season
By: Karen Schaefer | 17/10/2009 | Real EstateWell, this is the perfect time of year for investors. As the temperatures go down, so do prices. For all of us it is great…oh, except that nothing is selling right now! Okay, so if you buy, you must know how to transact—and in order to transact, you have to get people into your property. So, when it is 10 degrees outside and there are 20 inches of snow…what do you do to still get traffic in the door? You are going to want to keep this list in a safe place because you will refer to it year a